The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 1

Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017

The Crane

The June Challenge Edition of the Crane Newsletter

The Fourteenth Annual June Challenge ran from June 1st through June 30th. The total number of species recorded in the county during the Challenge was 126 (125 with the addition of non-countable exotics). This was better than average in historical terms, but it felt a little thin compared to 2016, when we found 131 species, and 2015, when we found 133. What was most remarkable about this year’s Challenge was the performance of our winners. Mike Manetz, who came in first, saw 96.7% of those 121 species. The second- and third-place winners, Lloyd Davis and Anne Casella, saw 112 species, or 92.6%. Winners in the under-16 age bracket were Nora Parks-Church with 71 species, Maddy Knight with 65 species, and Owen Parks-Church with 63 species. The most remarkable sightings can be divided into five categories. There were two lingering spring migrants near the beginning of the month: Spotted Sandpiper and American Redstart. There were two early fall migrants at the end of the month: Louisiana Waterthrush and Belted Kingfisher. There were four birds that spent the winter and were still here for some reason: Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, and American Coot. There were four species that breed here in very small numbers and can be hard to find: Gray Catbird, Broad-winged and Short-tailed Hawks, and Hairy Woodpecker. There were three species that visit us unpredictably: Brown Pelican, American White Pelican, and Whooping Crane. But perhaps the most surprising sighting didn’t fit into any of these categories: a singing male Painted Bunting photographed at La Chua on June 12th but not seen thereafter. It was awfully late to be a migrant, but Painted Buntings have never been known to nest in the county. Forty-four people participated in the Challenge this year. On July 8th Becky Enneis, the originator of the Challenge, hosted a party at her Alachua home during which Mike was awarded the June Challenge trophy.

Mike's name will be added to the trophy and he will keep it until next year’s Challenge. AAS presented winners in the adult and under-16 categories with gift certificates to Wild Birds Unlimited.

Results of the 2017 June Challenge

Continued on page 6

Rex Rowan (right) and fellow birders kick off the Challenge June 1st at Longleaf Flatwoods Park.

Photo by Emily Schwartz

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 2

In our previous issue of the Crane I mentioned that on April 1st Matt Bruce was kayaking at Newnans Lake near Prairie Creek and discovered seven species of shorebirds, including record numbers of Long-billed Dowitchers. The following week a couple of cold fronts brought heavy rains and I commented

that rising water would likely chase those birds away. Well, during the month and a half that followed not another drop of rain fell on Alachua County, and Newnans Lake evaporated to levels we haven't seen in several years, exposing mud flats and sandy shoreline around its entire rim. Matt took his kayak out again on April 21st and, along with Rex Rowan, relocated his large flock of shorebirds, which now included a bonus bird: the county's second-ever Ruff. A Ruff is an unusual shorebird that would be considered rare anywhere in Florida, but this individual was an adult male approaching spectacular high-breeding plumage...a sight you can only hope to see if you travel to northern Eurasia! Soon after word got out, motley flotillas of birders from Georgia to south Florida were on the lake seeking a glimpse of this truly wonderful and cooperative little bird. It lingered at Newnans for a week, making its way into local newspapers and onto many birder's life-lists before heading out for parts unknown. He is certainly the leading candidate for “Bird-of-the-Year” in the county! Besides the Ruff, large numbers of other migrant shorebirds took advantage of the feeding opportunities provided by the exposed edges of the lake. Peeps (mostly Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers) at times numbered in the hundreds, and were eventually joined by up to sixteen White-rumped Sandpipers, over thirty Stilt Sandpipers, and a lingering White Pelican. The indefatigable Lloyd Davis seemed to be out at Newnans nearly every day in May, blazing new paths and finding great birds. On May 12th he discovered a Ruddy Turnstone, only the eighth recorded in the county. Two days later he came upon both Common and Sandwich Terns, and on May 25th he reported a rare-in-summer Herring Gull. The bird-bonanza at Newnans held the promise of an outstanding June Challenge, but near-daily tropical showers beginning at the end of May drowned those hopes. Water levels started to rise and by June 1st most of those birds were gone! A few lingerers added some spice to the early days of June. A single Spotted Sandpiper made a fleeting appearance at the Windsor Boat Ramp on the first day of the Challenge. Chris Cattau, who has a knack for finding rare birds for the Challenge, alerted us to a male Ring-necked Duck along Levy Lake Loop. Also present was a Gray Catbird at Tumblin' Creek Park where Chris had discovered one the

Around The County… By Mike Manetz

Alachua Audubon Officers & Chairpersons of

Standing Committees

Submissions to The Crane are welcomed. Deadline for

the Sept–Oct issue: Aug. 15th

President ................ Debbie Segal 352-514-0596

Vice President ........ Scott Flamand 352-665-7020

Secretary... .................... Felicia Lee 714-791-8855

Treasurer ............ Trina Anderson 352-363-6810

Membership .. AlachuaAudubonMembership@gmail.com

Field Trips ............... Barbara Shea 352-514-3956

Education ............ Emily Schwartz 352-372-0754

Birding Classes .. Charlene Leonard 352-226-1214

Festivals .................. Will Sexton 727-385-8654

Conservation ............... Bob Simons 352-372-7646

Editor/Ads ................ Karen Brown 352-213-4257

Website ............ Trina Anderson 352-363-6810

Yearbook .................. Bob Carroll 352-372-6698

Crane Circulation ........... ....Erika and Bob Simons

AAS Website .................. www.AlachuaAudubon.org

Alachua Audubon Society’s mission is to foster appreciation

and knowledge of birds and other native wildlife, to protect and restore wildlife populations

and their habitats, and to promote sustainable use of

natural resources.

Content of The Crane is the sole responsibility of the editor and fulfills the stated objectives and goals of the Alachua Audubon Society. Annual subscription to The Crane is included in National Audubon and/or Alachua Audubon membership. See back page for more information. New advertisers are welcomed. Please contact the editor for information: 352-213-4257 or karenpbrown1953@gmail.com

Continued on page 9

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 3

A s a kid growing up in Oregon, I remember looking out the car window on road trips

watching Red-tailed Hawks sitting on fence post after fence post lining the old farm fields. They were waiting and watching for their next meal. When I moved to Florida as an adult, I missed the Red-tailed Hawks but enjoyed seeing another raptor, the American Kestrel, although you are more likely to see it on powerlines than fence posts. The kestrel is not really a hawk but rather a falcon with long pointed wings and sleek bodies. Thirteen species of kestrels can be found around the world, but only one, the American Kestrel, resides in the western hemisphere. Biolo-gists further divided the American Kestrel into 17 subspecies, and one of those is the non-migratory Southeastern American Kestrel found primarily in Florida. The northern subspecies is a migrant and winter visitor to Florida. Telling them apart is difficult outside of the breeding season when only the Southeastern American Kestrel resides in Florida. Kestrels breed from March through July, so if you see one during that time it is a Southeastern American Kestrel. Kestrels measure only 9-12 inches tall, which may be why it was once called the sparrow hawk. Insects, anoles and skinks are the prime targets for kestrels in Florida. Although kestrels will take an occasional sparrow, birds are not a prime tar-get for these raptors. One study in Florida found they had a fond taste for lizards. Kestrels hunt from perches or by gliding and hovering. They will spend time on telephone poles or wires watching for prey then pounce. They don’t chase small birds long distance like some other raptors, so they won’t hurt your bobwhite population. They prefer short grass fields where they can see their prey easily and open longleaf pine stands that they can easily fly through. Kestrels are not forest raptors. Instead, they tend be associated with early successional open canopied grasslands. The longleaf pine savannas, sandhills, dry prairies and scrub are favored natu-ral habitats. They are also known to use parks,

golf courses, pastures and orange groves because of the open habitat structure. But it is the long-leaf pine-wiregrass community that is most asso-ciated with the southeastern American kestrel in Florida. It is the open canopied, low density long-leaf pine grasslands, not longleaf planted in dense forests, that provide the best habitat for South-eastern American Kestrels. The Southeastern American Kestrel is in trouble. This subspecies has experienced the greatest declines of all North American Kestrel populations. Southeastern American Kestrels have declined 82 percent to 95 percent in Florida over the last 50 years. Once found in seven southeastern states, it now resides mostly in Flor-ida with a few scattered populations in South Carolina and Georgia. Kestrels, like other migratory birds, are feder-ally protected. So it begs the question: why are they declining? Well, like many, if not most, species of wildlife, habitat loss is the number one cause of decline. The longleaf pine-wiregrass community has been replaced over large areas by dense pine plantations, row crops, pastures and urban sprawl. Restoring the open grassland dominated, low density longleaf pine savannas are critical to restoring kestrel populations in Florida. Agricul-tural fields and pastures could fill the early suc-cessional structure but lack the most important feature: longleaf pine snags. Kestrels are second-ary cavity nesters. They need snags with cavities hollowed out by woodpeckers, who are built for excavating cavities, unlike raptors. Longleaf snags last longer than snags from other species of pine and so provide better nesting opportunities. Nest boxes on poles will help in pastures, agricultural fields and other open habitats without snags. In fact, a nest box pilot project started by the Flori-da Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in central Florida increased a local population by fivefold. Designs to build kestrel boxes can be found online.

Saving the Southeastern American Kestrel Florida Raptors Thrive in Longleaf Pine Forests

Continued on Page 8

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 4

K K I O D R Z’ N E R Drawing by Andre Frattino

Woodpecker Walk Fun

Sunday, May 21st was the 2017 Woodpecker Walk for Youth at Northeast Park on 16th Ave-nue. This park is noted for its Red-headed Woodpeckers and one can often find 4 species of woodpeckers there. Twelve youths (8 from Oak View Middle School), parents, and Audu-bon volunteers enjoyed viewing birds in the park. Oscar Conklin, age 10, assisted guide Ted Goodman by keeping a list of all birds seen. Oscar was earning community service points for his school as he helped. The Oak View Middle School science students were earning extra points for their homework grade in science. Birds seen were Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebirds (numerous), Blue Jay, Missis-sippi Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Mourning Dove, Brown Thrasher, Great Crested Flycatcher (very close looks), Northern Cardinal and Red-headed Woodpeckers (at least 5). Assisting students and parents were AAS volunteers Ted Goodman, Debbie Spiceland, Emily Schwartz and Mike and Barbara Brock. We are grateful to Mrs. Brock who supports the Audubon programs by encouraging her students to attend. Dark and threatening clouds caused the group to break up a little early but everyone enjoyed the cool spring morning outside viewing beautiful birds.

By Emily Schwartz

Photos:

Top left: Guide Ted Goodman shows Oscar and Aurora Conklin an Eastern Bluebird through his scope during the Woodpecker Walk. Photo by Emily Schwartz.

Bottom left: Beckett Baldwin, age 9, watching Burrowing Owls during the June 10th birding field trip. He also saw Eastern Kingbird, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, Green Heron, and American Kestrel for the first time. Beckett is actively working on his birding life list and is now up to 98 species. Photo by Danny Shehee.

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 5

Cedar Key is a favorite destination for bird-ers in the Spring, with migrants coming in from points south. Seeing it by boat is an extra treat. Connie and Mike O’Dell of Tidewater Tours offer an informative tour of the area covering about 10 miles between Atsena Otie Key, Snake Key, and Seahorse Key. On a recent trip lead by Alachua Audubon Society’s Scott Flamand, we found the shore-lines busy with hungry shorebirds anxious to replenish their fat stores, mostly Sanderling (see photo at right) but also Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, and Ruddy Turnstone. As we approached Atsena Otie Key where remains of old docks provide a roost for the

shorebirds, we heard a cacophony of Least Terns. Apparently the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (see photos on Flickr at tinyurl.com/mlzqwnh) has a breeding project going on using a technique of social attraction developed by Dr. Stephen Kress and the National Audubon Society. Using this technique Dr. Kress was able to restore the Atlantic Puffin to it’s historical breeding ground in Maine. You can read more about Project Puffin and social attraction at projectpuffin.audubon.org/. We hope to see Least Tern make a home in Cedar Key. Alachua Audubon Society schedules a trip with Tidewater Tours once a year, so be sure to look for it when the new field trip schedule is published in the Fall.

By Trina Anderson

Our most recent AAS/Santa Fe Community Education Beginning Birding class ended with the class and leaders enjoying lunch in Cedar Key following our final field trip of the semester. The highlight of the trip was incredible looks at a male Black-throated Green Warbler. Contact Charlene Leonard at cleonard@peds.ufl.edu or 352-226-1214 if you would like to sign up for the Fall session of classes. By Charlene Leonard

Birding Classes for Beginners

Trip leader Scott Flamand

Birding in Cedar Key

Sanderlings at Cedar Key. Photo by Trina Anderson.

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The results below show two numbers divided by a slash. To the left of the slash are the number of species recorded that are countable by American Birding Association rules, all of them native and naturalized species. To the right of the slash are exotics not countable by ABA rules, which this year included Black Swan, Greylag Goose, Swan Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl and Indian Peafowl (peacock), and which are used as tie-breakers in the June Challenge. Mike Manetz 117/0; Lloyd Davis 112/4; Anne Casella 112/0; Danny Shehee 111/4; Chris Cattau 110/3; Howard Adams 109/3; Brad Hall 108/3; Rex Rowan 108/0; Craig Parenteau 106/0; Deena Mickelson 103/3; Cindy Boyd 101/3; Tina Greenberg 101/3; Barbara Shea 101/3; Jennifer Donsky 100/0; John Hintermister 95/0; Austin Gregg 94/0; Debbie Segal 92/1; Conrad Burkholder 92/0; Bob Knight 85/1; Colleen Cowdery 83/0; Pratibha Singh 82/0; Erin Kalinowski 79/0; Bob Carroll 77/0; Trina Anderson 76/0; Geoff Parks 75/0; Glenn Israel 73/0; Danny Rohan 72/1; Linda Holt 72/0; Nora Parks-Church 71/0; Adam Zions 71/0; Barbara Woodmansee 70/0; Bob Simons 66/0; Tom Wronski 66/0; Maddy Knight 65/0; Becky Enneis 64/0; Owen Parks-Church 63/0; Sue Pulsipher 58/0; Scott Knight 54/0; John Martin 48/0; Emily Schwartz 48/0; Erika Simons 43/0; Will Sexton 37/0 (Will specified that he saw 37 species in June without doing the June Challenge); Debbie Spiceland 37/0; Cayley Buckner 20/0.

By Rex Rowan

Results of the 2017 June Challenge (Continued from Page 1)

Mike Manetz (left) receiving the comically large June Challenge trophy from Rex Rowan at the after party hosted by Beck Enneis. All winners received gift certificates to Wild Birds Unlimited courtesy of Alachua Audubon.

Maddy Knight (below) accepts her second place award in the under-16 category. Maddy saw 65 species in the June Challenge.

AAS sincerely thanks Rex Rowan for his frequent and highly anticipated email updates, for being the keeper and compiler of the June Challenge data, and for many behind-the-scenes activities that kept this challenge running so smoothly. Rex was surprised with his own gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited as a special thank you. Thank you also to Becky Enneis for creating the June Challenge over a decade ago, and for hosting the June Challenge party.

Photos by Danny Shehee

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 7

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Thank you to our advertisers for supporting the Alachua Audubon Society’s newsletter, The Crane.

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 8

Saving the Southeastern American Kestrel

(Continued from Page 3)

How can you help restore southeastern American kestrels in the southeast? By restoring your land to a more open low density pine habi-tat or installing nest boxes in pastures and agri-cultural fields. Cost share programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Ser-vice can help offset the cost of conducting habi-tat restoration and installing nest boxes. Contact your local NRCS district conservationist or a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Com-mision Landowner Assistance Program biolo-gist. For more information, contact Arlo Kane at 850-767-3616 or Arlo.Kane@MyFWC.com or Renee Bodine, NRCS Public Affairs Florida, at 352-338-9565 or Renee.Bodine@fl.usda.gov

By Arlo Kane, Regional Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, Landowner Assistance Program

Editor’s note: Bob Simons, longtime AAS Con-servation Committee Chair, has installed more than 100 kestrel nest boxes and more than 200 bluebird nest boxes over the last 25 years.

Bird Caught in Amber 100 Million Years Ago

Scientists recently reported finding a 100-million-year-old piece of fossil resin, or amber, in Myanmar in Southeast Asia. The amber con-tained a very detailed impression of a hatchling that was just a few days old when it fell into a sticky pool of sap from a conifer tree. “It’s the most complete and detailed view we’ve ever had,” says Ryan McKellar of the Royal Sas-katchewan Museum, Regina, in Canada, a member of the team that described the find. “Seeing something this complete is amazing.” Read the article by Michael Le Page in the June 7, 2017 issue of New Scientist and see a photo of the amber, plus a reconstruction of what the bird probably looked like when it fell, at: newscientist.com/article/2133981

Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Sweetwater Wetlands Park (SWP) is a con-structed wetland habitat of more than 125 acres. The City of Gainesville park has several miles of trails and is teeming with plants and wildlife. It was designed to improve water quality by filter-ing out pollution and and nutrients. It also helps restore the natural water flow to more than 1,300 acres of formerly drained wetlands in

A Least Bittern photographed at Sweetwater Wetlands Park in June by Thomas Wronski .

Paynes Prairie. The park has become a favorite spot for local birders. It is located at 325 SW Williston Road in Gainesville and is open from 7 AM to sun-set daily. Fee is $5 per car or $2 per pedestrian or bicyclist. Visit SweetwaterWetlands.org or call 352-393-8520 to learn more.

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 9

previous June. There was an injured Gadwall at Newnans Lake and a Blue-winged Teal at Sweetwater Dike; both remained into the first few days of June. Roseate Spoonbills made brief cameo appearances at several locations before at least one settled in for a few days at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. A couple of White Pelicans also showed up at Sweetwater and stayed long enough for several June Challengers to get a look. Rex Rowan spotted a female American Redstart at Longleaf Flatwoods on June 8th, making it the latest spring Redstart ever recorded in the county. A Whooping Crane made a brief appearance on Payne's Prairie Basin, visible from the Visitor Center tower June 13th. The same day, an out-of-town birder photographed a male Painted Bunting at the head of La Chua trail. Unfortunately that bird, which would only be the second June record in the county, could not be relocated. Brown Pelicans made a splash here on the morning of June 25th. Matt Bruce noted one at Orange Lake, while John Hintermister and Barbara Shea had another at Power's Park. From the descriptions of plumages they seemed to be two different birds. As I wrapped up this article the June Challenge was still ongoing. That said, often the last bird added to the June list is a returning fall migrant Louisiana Waterthrush. Lloyd Davis found one this year on June 27th. So, did I say “fall migrant”? Yes dear friends, the fun never ends! Thanks to those who shared their sightings through June 28th, 2017.

By Mike Manetz

Around the County (Continued from page 2)

"Cuba – So near, and yet so far away. . ." For half a century, Cuba was the mystery island for American birders and nature lovers. The island held an alluring charm enhanced by its inaccessibility. With the easing of travel restrictions in the past few years, travel to Cuba has become possible. On Wednesday, September 20th, 2017, join two travelers as they guide you through the former terra vetita, where mule-drawn carts are common and tour buses are about the only vehicles on the road-ways. You will see the larger nature preserves for birds, visiting coastal mangrove, scrub land, savanna and swampland habitats. You will learn a little about the landscape, see native wildlife and endemics such as the Cuban pygmy owl, the trogon, and the bee hummingbird. Your presenters will be Pat Bartlett and Rob Norton who combined forces to bring you this presentation.

Join us for social time at 6:30; program starts at 7:00 pm at Millhopper Public Library, 3145 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville.

AAS Speakers Corner

Alachua County Birding

Have you heard about the Alachua County Birding Facebook group? If not, you are miss-ing fabulous photos and almost daily sightings of birds in Alachua County and North Central Florida. Join them at facebook.com/groups/AlachuaCounty Birding/

Like AAS on Facebook www.facebook.com/AlachuaAudubon/

and Check Out Our Website

AlachuaAudubon.org

The Crane Alachua Audubon Society Volume 58 Number 6 July –Aug. 2017 Page 10

Alachua Audubon Society P. O. Box 140464 Gainesville, Florida 32614-0464 AlachuaAudubon.org

The Crane July–Aug. 2017

Audubon Membership Explained

To join Audubon at the local level, please complete the membership form to the left, or print a form at AlachuaAudubon.org/Membership. Choose the level that is appropriate for you. Mail the completed form with your check, payable to Alachua Audubon Society, to the address provided. To join Audubon at the National level, go to AlachuaAudubon.org/Membership where you will be directed to their membership page. This site allows payment by credit card. Your introductory membership ($20) will be credited to our local chapter and you will become an annual member of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Florida and Alachua Audubon, with one-year subscriptions to National Audubon magazine, Audubon Florida’s Naturalist magazine, and Alachua Audubon’s bi-monthly newsletter, The Crane. Please send any questions to AlachuaAudubonMembership@gmail.com

Watch for the complete list of 2017/2018 Alachua Audubon Field

Trips in the next edition of The Crane!

Join Alachua Audubon! Membership Application

Benefits of membership include expert-led field trips, programs for adults and youth,

classes for beginning birders, The Crane bi-monthly newsletter, conservation advocacy

with local and state legislators, and more.

Annual Membership Levels Choosing a higher level provides additional

support for our local chapter. Student $10 Individual $15 Family $30 Limpkin $50 Purple Gallinule $100 Swallow-tailed Kite $250 Sandhill Crane $500 Whooping Crane* $1,000 (*bestows lifetime membership)

Please send your completed application with a check payable to

Alachua Audubon Society to: 3242 NW 12th Terr., Gainesville, FL 32609

Name: ____________________________

Address: __________________________

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Email: ____________________________ The Crane is distributed via email. Your email address will not be shared with other organizations.

Alachua Audubon is an official chapter of National Audubon and Audubon Florida. If you belong to National Audubon and live in our area, you are already a member of Alachua Audubon .

To join National Audubon, please go to AlachuaAudubon.org/Membership where you

will be directed to their membership page.

Alachua Audubon is a 501(c)3 organization.